February 2019
Hi,
I have a power steering fluid leak and I'm pretty sure it's coming from the pressure switch, although I'm not certain as everything I've learnt about the power steering system has been in the last couple of days....... Read more
Hi all
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I wouldn’t pay that sort of money for a warranty although the approved Honda guarantee is as comprehensive as it gets. A 5-6yr old petrol Civic really doesn’t have any real vices to worry about and the only likely problems she’ll have will be wear and tear items like brakes and tyres none of which can be covered by a warranty.
The clutch is the only real concern but again it’s a wear and tear item that wouldn’t be covered on a used car too. With a diesel the DPF is the biggest worry but again it’s a wear and tear item, once it’s full it needs replaced and no warranty will cover this. Tell her to save the money and keep it for any potential wear and tear repairs instead.
I’ve sold loads of older Civics over the years and not had to contend with one major failure. The engines and gearboxes are strong and robust, the body resists rust better than most rivals and the electrics are excellent. There’s little to fear from buying one. Check for clutch wear and look for juddering from cold particularly on diesels. Other than that it’s the usual checks for poor paint repairs and making sure it’s been serviced every year and not neglected.
Several things have conspired to make modern tyres pretty much useless on snow, firstly the fashion for ultra low profile tyres and which have limited carcass flex, plus the eco loons campaigning against plant food emissions making tyres harder and again less flexible due to the (enforced) obsession of reducing rolling resistance over actually producing a tyre that grips the road better..
The net result is roads become instantly clogged by the smallest fall of snow and secondly we spread millions of tonnes of salt which finds its way into our drains and water courses doing genuine ecological damage - rather than the imaginary one from plant food emissions.... Read more
And my Vredestein Quatrac 5 all seasons
Family have used Quatrac 2 and 3 and pleased, would value your opinions of Q5 if you would be so kind GWS.
It took me four hours to get home last night including three hours stationary due to two crashed lorries when I was 1km from home. When we got going the car was barely able to climb the hill. I saw a high end car stuck, front wheel drive no doubt.
We had 4-6” of snow last night, roads might be unusable. I see the BBC are saying a 4 by 4 offers better traction than a normal car. Not so, if it has normal tyres, and the car has winter tyres, the latter is better. I need to get to a hockey game today, not sure if I should risk it. Read more
"A lot of the problems we now face only seemed to start occuring on a big scale from the mid 1990s onwards. I wonder what coincided with that time?"
The onset of paranoia?Nope - the very risk averse culture of over-the-top health and safety in certain elements of the public sector, especially schools and the Police, where seemingly doing nothing is far better than taking a reasonable view about risks and making a sensible decision....
I cannot open this either in email or web. Read more
In Moscow, the previous model was usually used to carry an oligarch's bodyguards, while the oligarch himself was right in front in his Maybach or Bentley. Woe betide any unsuspecting motorist who ended up between the two of them.
Have a kia sportage with a dream xxi lpg sytem fitted.
Was working perfectly and today went to start and noticed the gauge is completely blank. ... Read more
Hello
I recently had a new cambelt fitted. On closer examination antifreeze added to the car is orange/red in colour. The VW recommended is Purple coloured and referred to as G13. Should I get it changed?... Read more
VW uses aluminium engine blocks with cast iron cilinder sleeves. BMW usualy uses cast iron engine blocks resulting in heavier engines
As said above, total rubbish....
I have an A180 CDI Avantgarde 2005 (automatic). Have been driving it for 1 1/2 months without any problems. Last weekend I got the alternator error on the dashboard and drove it to the local garage. It appears now that the car won't move at all as there is a transmission problem. Can an alternator cause problems with transmission??? I've had no prior problems with it. Read more
I assume the electronics in the auto transmission control module have been fried or object to the voltage as not being high enough or too low..
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Someone told me that recent diesel cars - especially VAG ones - have no issues with the DPF, and you can happily do no longer journeys and the DPF will be fine. Is this true? Read more
There is a great little app called VAGDPF for Android that along with an inexpensive bluetooth OBD reader can tell you when your car wants to regenerate, when it starts and when it has finished along with other useful information. A must have for all VAG diesel owners in my opinion.
If only they'd had the sense to include that on the MFD on the dashboard. It's not as though most modern cars (and especially VAGs) don't have flashy LED displays. If I as an engineer had allowed a product to go to market without such a feature, I'd be sacked.
Amazing how so many can get away with this, or that have said nothing (even anonymously) about it if the decision was by the top brass.
The lack of appeal for Land Rovers, given their strong following in rather interesting. My wife wanted an Evoke or Disco Sport, but after conducting lengthy research and a test drive, the idea was kicked into touch because of too many electrical niggles and major issues with the diesel engine and DPF. Petrol Evokes were too rare to be a serious consideration too.
The fact that JLR is making many redundant and blaming China for the sales downturn, may be only part of the story. Read more
At last someone speaking some common sense.
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Cool. Thanks for the help!!